Praying for Each Other’s Sins

35 Days Toward PEACE – Week 5 Fellowship (Day 32)

The goal of this devotional is to develop the spiritual disciplines and habits over the next 35 days that will allow the PEACE of Jesus Christ to change our lives for the better. Is that what you want? Are you willing to join me in the journey?

Allow me a moment of review:

Week 1we focused on Prayer and used the Lord’s Prayer to examine what Prayer is to begin training ourselves to have the habit of daily prayer.

Week 2 focused on Educating ourselves in the Word of God. The first 2 weeks together consisted of 14 days of reading Scriptureand praying.

Week 3 was about the Adoration of the Trinity. We added a time of Worshipto our daily devotional and since this was an online devotional we were able to use YouTube videos.

Week 4 discussed the Challenge to be like Christ. Our Discipleshipis a path of becoming more and more like Jesus our savior.

Week 5 (this week) we will engage Encouragement from other believers. We need Fellowship and Accountability to truly connect with the PEACE of Jesus Christ to change our lives. (I keep adjusting this section of the PEACE acrostic.)

Throughout this devotional I have emphasized several times of the need to be connected to the community of Christ either through the larger congregational body of the church or through in individual accountable relationships. Allow me again to strongly encourage you to be part of church and to find an accountability partner. (If you are member of the Drexel academic community I can personally help you get plugged into a church.) Fellowship within an entire congregation is vital to a Christian’s health this week we are going to focus on accountability which is best practiced within a small group and/or with a partner.

Now that we are working on the final piece of this devotional, I want to put things into a specific order.

Worship:

We are now on day 32 of a 35 day journey together. Since we have all the pieces together and with several of them being formed as habits I want to start transitioning you to the point of independence in your devotional life from this blog. So for today you are going to find your own YouTube video to watch. Please go to www.youtube.com and enter Christian Worship Music in the search field. Watch the video that best grabs your attention as worship to the Lord. I watched –

Praise God for the fact that He is always available to us, no matter where we are in the world, no matter what time it is. We can always reach out to God in prayer and worship. We can always hear the voice of God if we have an open Bible.

Confession:

Look over the ten questions and use them as a way to bring to the surface any sins that you may need to confess. As you think about forming an accountability partnership here are 10 question areas that we have found helpful on campus. These were developed over time after using questions from Character That Counts. You can use these questions within the accountability times but also it is good to remind yourself daily about what you are be held accountable to.

Have you spent time reading Scripture and in prayer? Has it been quality? Do you have any insights to share?

Have you placed yourself in a situation to compromise you sexual morals?

Have you been completely above reproach in your financial dealings? Have you used your resources to bless other?

Have you spent quality relationship time with family and friends? Is their anyone you need to reach out to?

Have you managed your time efficiently doing your 100% best (but not over) in your job, school etc?

Have you told any lies or half-truths to unethically benefit? If yes do you need to correct this lie?

Have you shared the Gospel or had a spiritual conversation with an unbeliever this week?

Have you taken care of your body through daily physical exercise and proper eating/sleeping habits?

Have you allowed any person or circumstance to rob you of your joy? How have you experienced God’s peace this week?

Have you lied to us on any of your answers today?

Petition:

Is there a specific area of this list that seems to be the hardest for you. God to help you in that area. Sometimes we overwhelm ourselves seeking simultaneous perfection in all areas of our Christian walk. Take time to concentrate on one and make little changes that are easily attainable.

Scripture:

James 5:16 (NIV)Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Petition:

If there is an area of your Christian walk that you need help with go to a trusted Christian friend, mentor and/or accountability partner. Talk to them openly and honestly about the issue. Solicit their prayers for you and your life. We are not designed to go through this world alone.

Let someone in your life know that you will be their for them in this way. Look them in the eyes and tell them that no matter what they may be struggling with they can talk to you. You will pray for them and try your hardest to do what is ultimately best for their eternal spiritual good.

Thanksgiving:

Again today, thank God that we don’t have to struggle alone. Thank Him that he sent Christ into the world to save us. Thank Him that He has orchestrated the church to be a resource to help with out lives. Thank Him specifically for bringing those individuals into our lives that have brought us this far.